Exploit your parking space
An unused parking space or garage can make money. If you live near a city center or an airport, you could make anything up to ￡200 or ￡300 a week. Put an advertisement for free on Letpark or Atmyhousepark.
Rent（出租）a room
Spare room Not only will a lodger（房客）earn you an income, but also, thanks to the government-backed “rent a room” program, you won’t have to pay any tax on the first ￡4500 you make per year. Try advertising your room on Roomspare or Roommateeasy.
Make money during special events
Don’t want a full-time lodger? Then rent on a short-term basis. If you live in the capital, renting a room out during the Olympics or other big events could bring in money. Grashpadder can advertise your space
Live on set
Renting your home out as a “film set” could earn you hundreds of pounds a day, depending on the film production company and how long your home is needed. A quick search on the Internet will bring up dozens of online companies that allow you to register your home for free—but you will be charged if your home gets picked.
Use your roof
You need the right kind of roof, but some energy companies pay the cost of fixing solar equipment (around ￡14,000), and let you use the energy produced for nothing. In return, they get paid for unused energy fed back into the National Grid. However, you have to sign a 25-year agreement with the supplier, which could prevent you from changing the roof.
1.If you earn ￡5000 from renting a room in one year, the tax you need to pay will be based on______.
A. ￡800 B. ￡500 C. ￡4500 D. ￡5000
2.If you want to use energy free, you have to_____.
A. sign an agreement with the government
B. pay around ￡14,000 for the equipment
C. sell the roof to some energy companies
D. keep the roof unchanged for within 25 years
3.For whom the text most probably written？
A. Lodgers. B. Advertisers.
C. House owners. D. Online companies
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
You're in a department store and you see a couple of attractive young women looking at a sweater. You listen to their conversation:
"I can't believe it-----a Lorenzo Bertolla! They are almost impossible to find. Isn't it beautiful? And it's a lot cheaper than the one Sara bought in Rome."
They leave and you go over to see this incredible sweater. It's nice and the price is right. You've never heard of Lorenzo Bertolla, but those girls looked really stylish. They must know. So, you buy it. You never realize that those young women are employees of an advertising agency. They are actually paid to go from store to store, talking loudly about Lorenzo Bertolla clothes.
Every day we notice what people are wearing, driving and eating. If the person looks cool, the product seems cool, too. This is the secret of undercover marketing. Companies from Ford to Nike are starting to use it.
Undercover marketing is important because it reaches people that don't pay attention to traditional advertising. This is particularly true of the MTV generation ---- consumers between the age of 18 and 34. It is a golden group. They have a lot of money to spend, but they don't trust ads.
So advertising agencies hire young actors to "perform" in bars and other places where young adults go. Some people might call this practice deceptive (骗人的), but marketing executive Jonathan Ressler calls it creative. "Look at traditional advertising. Its effectiveness is decreasing." However, one might ask what exactly is "real" of young women pretending to be enthusiastic about a sweater? Advertising executives would say it's no less real than an ad. The difference is that you know an ad is trying to persuade you to buy something. You don' t know when a conversation you overhear is just a performance.
1.The two attractive young women were talking so that they could _____.
A. get the sweater at a lower price
B. decide on buying the sweater
C. be admired by other shoppers
D. be heard by people around
2. Lorenzo Bertolla is _____.
A. a very popular male singer
B. an advertising agency
C. the brand name of a sweater
D. a clothing company in Rome
3.Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. Traditional advertising will soon disappear in the market.
B. The MTV generation tend to be more easily influenced by ads.
C. Undercover marketing will surely be banned soon by the government.
D. Traditional advertising is becoming less effective because it's too direct.
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Two Attractive Shoppers
B. Lorenzo Bertolla Sweaters
C. Undercover Marketing
D. Ways of Advertising
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
American culture is unique because it is formed and developed under certain conditions. The major factors contributing to the making of this new nation and the forming of a new culture are the hard environment, ethnic diversity (多样性；差异) and plural religion, which is quite different from other nations in the world. What is more, these elements are still influencing the American culture.
The early immigrants（移民）who were English Puritans settled down in northeast part of America from 1607 to 1892. Frontiers were pushed further west. The frontiersmen looked for a land of rich resources and a land of promise, opportunity and freedom. Actually they looked for a better life. So individualism(个人主义), self-reliance, and equality of opportunity have perhaps been the values most closely associated with the frontier heritage（遗产）of America.
In history, people from different countries in the world rushed to America three times. They brought their own culture to America and later on, different cultures were mixed together. Thus the unique American culture was formed, a common cultural life with commonly shared values.
The fundamental American belief in individual freedom and the fight of individuals to practice their own religion is at the center of religious experience in the United States. The great diversity of ethnic backgrounds has produced religious pluralism(多元化); almost all of the religions of the world are now practiced in the United States.
Nowadays, we can see the continual influence of the three elements in the current American society. American family is typically parents and their unmarried children. Middle-aged and elderly people generally do not live with their married children. The people in America have a very strong desire to start a new life in a new place. Quite a number of people change residences every year. The average American moves fourteen times in his lifetime.
1. We can learn from this article that ________.
A. the population of the United States includes a large variety of ethnic groups
B. the early immigrants brought about the unique American culture
C. people in the world once rushed to America because of its unique culture
D. the American family members don't get along well with each other
2. What's the author's attitude towards American culture?
A. He is critical of it.
B. He admires it very much.
C. He just states the facts.
D. He looks down upon it.
3.The last paragraph is about________.
A．the family structure in American society
B．the influence of the three elements in the current American society
C．the new life style of American family
D．the reason why American people like to change residences
4.What might be the most suitable title of this article?
A．The Immigrants in America
B．Why American Culture Is Unique
C．The Influence of American Culture
D．Plural Religion and American Culture
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Can you believe your eyes? A recent experiment suggests that the answer to that question may depend on your age.
Martin Doherty, a psychologist at the University of Stirling in Scotland, led the team of scientists. In this experiment, Doherty and his team tested the perception(观察力) of some people, using pictures of some orange circles. The researchers showed the same pictures to two groups of people. The first group included 151 children aged 4 to 10, and the second group included 24 adults aged 18 to 25.
The first group of pictures showed two circles alone on a white background. One of the circles was larger than the other, and these people were asked to identify the larger one. Four-year-olds identified the correct circle 79 percent of the time. Adults identified the correct circle 95 percent of the time.
Next, both groups were shown a picture where the orange circles, again of different sizes, were surrounded by gray circles. Here's where the trick lies in. In some of the pictures, the smaller orange circle was surrounded by even smaller gray circles —making the orange circle appear larger than the other orange circle, which was the real larger one. And the larger orange circle was surrounded by even bigger gray circles—so it appeared to be smaller than the real smaller orange circle.
When young children aged 4 to 6 looked at these tricky pictures, they weren't fooled—they were still able to find the bigger circle with roughly the same accuracy(准确性) as before. Older children and adults, on the other hand, did not do as well. Older children often identified the smaller circle as the larger one, and adults got it wrong most of the time.
As children get older, Doherty said, their brains may develop the ability to identify visual context. In other words, they will begin to process the whole picture at once: the tricky gray circles, as well as the orange circle in the middle. As a result, they're more likely to fall for this kind of visual trick.
1.Doherty and his team of scientists did an experiment to evaluate_____________.
A. children's and adults' eye-sight
B. people's ability to see accurately
C. children's and adults' brains
D. the influence of people's age
2.When asked to find the larger circle,_____________.
A. children at 6 got it wrong 79 % of the time with no gray ones around
B. only adults over 18 got it right 95% of the time with gray ones around
C. children at 4 got it right about 79 % of the time with gray ones around
D. adults got it right most of the time with gray ones around
3.According to the passage, we can know that_____________.
A. a smaller orange circle appears bigger on a white background
B. an orange circle appears bigger than a gray one of the same size
C. a circle surrounded by other circles looks bigger than its real size
D. a circle surrounded by bigger ones looks smaller than its real size
4.Why are younger children not fooled?_____________.
A. Because their brain can hardly notice related things together.
B. Because older people are influenced by their experience.
C. Because people's eyes become weaker as they grow older.
D. Because they are smarter than older children and adults.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据短文内容，从所给的七个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项是多余选项。
Going to college is a new experience full of excitement of the unknown. Socialization is a big thing for college students and it is common to feel a little uncomfortable going into a situation where everyone is a stranger. You may probably miss your friends from high school.1. College is a great opportunity to make new lifelong friends. The question is: how?
▲Get to know your roommate.
You may find you have lots of things in common with your roommate, but even if you are completely different from each other, with a little effort and understanding the two of you may become best friends.
▲2.
If you leave your door open, this shows that you welcome visitors. As a result people will naturally stop in and say hello. Closed doors are not likely to bring many visitors and those who stay locked up in their rooms may give others the impression of being cold. Other students will be less likely to stop in and build a new friendship.
▲Join clubs or organizations.
Getting involved in organized societies is a great way to meet new people.3. By staying active in college groups such as clubs and organizations you can meet lots of people with whom you share common interests.
▲Talk to classmates.
4. Starting conversations in class is a great opportunity to meet people who are interested in the same kind of studies as you are. Short friendly discussions can build lifelong friendships.
▲Try out for a sport.
If you' re athletic, trying out for a sport will do for you the same thing that joining a club will do. 5.
| A. Close the door to keep away from theft. B. Hang a welcome sign on your dorm room. C. It also helps you get more familiar with the campus. D. Your roommate is the first person you will have close contact with. E. You will instantly meet a large group of people who share your interests in sports. F. Get to know your classmates as you'll be spending several months with them. G. Trying actively to find new friends can help ease the feelings of being lonely. |
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
完形填空。阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
As a teacher, I think all students were dear to me, especially Mark.
Mark was very talkative, I had to him repeatedly that talking without was not acceptable. Every time I had to correct him for misbehaving. “ Thank you for correcting me, Sister!” I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day.
Once my was running out when Mark talked again, I two pieces of tape(胶带) and made a big X with them over his mouth. When I the tape, he still thanked me for correcting him.
One Friday, I asked the students to the names of the other students on two pieces, leaving a between each name, and then write down the thing they should say about others.
Then I all the lists and gave each student his or her list. Soon the entire class was smiling. “ I never knew that anything to anyone!” “ I didn’t know liked me so much!” Mark said, “Thank you for keeping me , Sister.”
Later Mark joined the army and was in Vietnam. After the funeral(葬礼), his father showed me something on Mark. It was pieces of notebook paper that had been taped and folded many times, on which were the good things that Mark’s classmates had said about him. His mother said that he behaved better and better my list.
Mark’s classmates told me that they kept their own lists in ways. Hearing this , I finally cried.
Sometimes the things could mean the most to others. We forget when life will end. So the people you love and care about, before it is too late.
1.A. comfort B. guide C. remind D.command
2.A. arrangement B. permission C. reason D. accuracy
3.A. Long ago B. Long after C. Long before D. Before long
4.A. skill B. time C. confidence D. patience
5.A. tore off B. broke down C. put away D. showed up
6.A. set B. removed C. get D. took
7.A. search B. ensure C. list D. plan
8.A. space B. hole C. chance D. words
9.A. worst B. first C. diverse D. nicest
10.A. repeated B. spelled C. changed D. organized
11.A. meant B. explained C. brought D. expected
12.A. friends B. people C. others D. students
13.A. informed B. warned C. cured D. accused
14.A. saved B. killed C. surrounded D. trapped
15.A. found B. written C. stolen D. examined
16.A. quickly B. obviously C. exactly D. properly
17.A. except for B. instead of C. in spite of D. because of
18.A. necessary B. useful C. differnt D. exciting
19.A. smallest B. biggest C. best D. strongest
20.A. evaluate B. forgive C. praise D.thank
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
After graduation from university, I 1.(able) to secure a permanent（固定的）job in my small town. So I decided to leave home for New York, 2._I might have a better chance to find a good job. 3. (earn) some money to pay the daily expenses, I started working in a local café 4. a waiter. I believe that if I 5.(offer) a good position, I would resign at once.
Over time, the high cost of living became a little burden on my already6. (tire) shoulder. On the other hand, my search for a respectable job had not met with much success. As I had studied literature at university, I found 7.quite difficult to secure a suitable job in big companies. Mother had just said that if I want to have a better career advancement, I had to find work in the city. Perhaps what my mother had told me was 8. ( deep ) rooted in my mind. I just did as she had expected.
Soon I had lived in the city for over six months but I still did not like it. Apparently, I had difficulty 9. (adapt) myself to life in the city, let alone finding a job. To my delight，after nine months of frustration, I eventually decided to go back to my small town. Not until I returned did I realize that a quiet town life was the best for me. Here the air is fresher. Besides, the environment is cleaner 10. that in the city.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文改错
文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
I visited my aunt in the countryside near the city last week. I was surprising to see that great changes had been taken place in the countryside. In the past they were poor due to the lack of knowledge and experiences. Despite the fact that they spared no efforts to search of every possible means to make money, which seemed that all they did was in vain.
Now their family’s income reaches as many as 100, 000 yuan each year. Not only they have a house, a car and computers, they can also afford a trip abroad. When asking what else they need most, they said that if they have learned a little English , they would have been able to do business with foreigners directly. To their delight, my cousin can use that he has learned from university to help them in overseas trade.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是李华，你的美国中学生朋友彼得希望成为2022年北京冬奥会志愿者，他向你写信询问冬奥会相关情况，并求助怎样学好汉语。请给他回信，要点如下：
1．收到来信，获悉求助；
2．冬奥盛会，北京张家口合办；
3．学好汉语的两条建议。
参考词汇 ：志愿者volunteer
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
Dear Peter．
Yours
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析